George  Washington  Flowers 
Memorial  Collection 


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FAMILY  OF 
COLONEL  FLOWERS 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 

OF 

ST.  JOHN'S  EVANGELICAL 

Lutheran  Church 

CONCORD,  N.  C. 

Delivered  at  the 
HOME  COMING  SERVICE 
AUGUST  29TH.  AND  30TH., 
1925 


By  REV.  CHARLES  E.  RIDENHOUR 
Published  by  the  Congregation 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch01ride 


ST.  JOHN'S   LUTHERAN  CHURCH 


2 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  ST.  JOHN'S 
CHURCH,  CABARRUS. 

Yve  are  met  this  evening  to  review  and  recall  a 
history  long  .n  the  making.  The  subject  names  and 
limits  the  paper.  Nothing  less  than  a  volume,  and 
historian,  can  do  credit  to  the  long  and  noble  record 
of  Sc.  John's  Church,  of  Cabarrus  County.  The  re- 
cords show  this  congregation  to  have  been  in  exist- 
ence for  about  175  years.  There's  much  that  would 
be  of  interest  in  her  early  life,  that  passed  with  her 
organizers,  unknown  and  never  to  be  known. 

The  first  thing  that  concerns  us,  is  her  birth 
place  and  people.  The  exact  date  of  organization  is 
unknown.  The  arrival  of  German  Emigrants  from 
Penn.  in  1745  or  there  about,  tells  us  who  the  people 
were.  That  a  people  came  from  Penn.  into  the  Pied- 
mont section  about  this  time  is  a  matter  long  ago 
settled.  Why  this  people  came  to  America  is  known. 
They  came  for  religious  freedom.  It  may  be  begging 
the  question  some-what,  to  conclude  thus,  but  it 
looks  reasonable  for  them  to  have  organized  for 
worship  in  th.'s  wilderness  of  freedom. 

Those  who  came  into  this  and  other  sections  are 
known  to  have  settled  along  creeks  and  water  cour- 
ses. While  living  near  these  water  courses,  their 
churches  are  to  be  found  close  by  them.  The  first 
church  erected  was  about  1  1-2  miles  North  East  of 
Mt.  Pleasant.  It  was  a  rude  and  crude  building,  made 
of  unhewed  pine  logs,  without  windows,  floor  and 
chimney.  It  was  called  "Dutch  Buffalo  Creek 
Church."  The  name  no  doubt  was  suggested  by  the 
creek  which  bears  the  same  name,  and  along  whose 
banks  many  of  her  members  lived. 

This  church  was  owned  jointly  by  Lutherans 
and  German  Reformed,  all  of  whom  worsh'pped 
here.  We  have  no  records  of  this  church  having  a 
regular  pastor.  It  was  not  only  used  for  worship  but 
for  teaching  their  youth.  The  school  teacher  conduct- 


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ed  services  for  them,  by  reading  sermons.  He  buried 
tnexr  aeaci  and  in  cases  baptized.  Jrreaching  was 
doubtless  limited  to  a  minister  passing  tnrough. 

neie  we  iind  a  graveyard.  Doubtless  graves 
can  be  seen  there  now.  Ihey  were  very  marked  a 
iew  years  ago.  m  la94,  or  more  than  a  hundred 
years  after  their  making,  a  momument  was  erected 
upon  th-s  spot  by  St.  jonns  congregation,  to  honor 
and  perpetuate  her  memory. 

How  long  this  congregation  held  services  here 
we  do  not  Know,  but  we  nna  them  relocating  and  re- 
building. The  second  church  was  erected  about  1-2 
mile  East  of  the  present  location,  on  the  land  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Harry  Cline.  When  it  was  erected  the 
records  do  not  show,  but  the  name  "Dutch  Buffalo 
Creek  Church"  still  clung  to  it,  and  it  still  belonged 
to  Lutherans  and  German  Reformed.  This  building 
was  made  of  unhewed  pine  logs  but  was  larger  than 
the  first. 

In  1771  we  find  a  change  taking  place.  It  be- 
came Lutheran.  A  peaceful  separation  between 
Lutherans  and  German  Reformed  took  place  at  this 
time.  The  change  of  ownership  caused  the  change  in 
name,  hence  it  became  St.  John's,  which  it  holds  to- 
day. 

Again  a  grave  yard  is  left  to  witness  and  per- 
petuate her  memory.  The  land  upon  which  this  build- 
ing stood  and  in  which  the  grave  yard  occupied,  is 
known  today  as  the  "church  piece." 

A  factor  of  no  little  importance  and  has  had  no 
little  effect  upon  the  church  through  this  period, 
was  the  Revolutionary  war.  But  new  life  is  begin- 
ning to  manifest  itself. 

A  new  location  and  building  is  now  before  it. 
We  find  the  third  church  located  in  the  midst  of 
the  present  cemetery.  This  is  about  1772.  It  too  was 
made  of  logs,  but  was' larger  and  better.  It  was  built 
largely  at  the  expense  of  one  of  her  members,  cap- 
tain John  Paul  Barringer.  He  was  the  only  member 


4 


of  the  building  committee,  and  Daniei  Jarretc  was 
Mie  contractor.  Tne  congregation  erected  an  enclos- 
ed pew  in  it,  exclusively  xor  captain  Barrmger  and 
his  family,  as  a  mark  of  appreciat-on. 

Up  to  this  time  the  congregation  had  not  had  a 
icgular  pastor.  No  pastor  was  to  be  found  m  the 
Laroiinas  and  Penn.  It  only  remained  for  them  to 
send  to  Germany.  So  in  1772  Christopner  Layrle 
from  St.  Johns  and  Christopher  Rinteiman  of  Organ 
Church  Rowan,  were  sent  as  a  delegation  to  Ger- 
many for  pastors  and  teachers.  They  sailed  from 
Lnaiies.cn,  S.  C.  to  London,  thence  to  Hanover  Ger- 
amny.  There  they  secured  Rev.  Adolphus  Nussman 
and  Gottifried  Arndt.  This  delegation  was  given  90 
lbs.  which  was  delayed  for  more  than  ten  years,  but 
was  eventually  received  wh.'ch  amounted  to  $1500. 
They  arrived  in  N.  C.  in  1773.  Pastor  Nussman  and 
teacher  Arndt  remained  in  Salisbury  and  at  Organ 
for  a  year.  But  in  1774  he  became  St.  John's  first 
regular  pastor.  St.  John's  had  no  parsonage  so  pas- 
tor Nussman  located  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Prof,  and  John  B.  McAllister,  entering  this  land  in 
his  name.  Here  he  remained  for  20  years  as  pastor 
of  this  congregation. 

Worthy  of  note,  the  teacher  who  came  with 
Ppstor  Nussman  after  two  years  teaching  became 
a  regular  ordained  preacher  and  remained  at  Organ 
for  mere  than  ten  years. 

Dur'ng  this  time  three  generous  members, 
Messrs.  Jacob  Fegert,  Marx  Hans  and  Jacob  Thieme, 
paid  50  shillings  for  100  acres  of  government  land 
and  entered  it  in  trust  for  "Dutch  Buffalo  Creek 
Meeting  House,"  hence  we  have  the  church  farm. 
The  church  was  already  located  upon  it.  This  grant 
was  made  Oct.  22,  1782. 

The  war  ended,  the  church  began  to  show  new 
life,  and  on  the  6th  day  of  Nov.  1784  a  resolution  was 
passed  "for  the  purpose  of  rebuilding  St.  John's." 
The  old  church  was  torn  away  and  the  fourth  one 
placed  upon  the  same  spot.  This  was  a  larger  and 


5 


better  church  than  any  of  the  former  ones.  This  was 
a  frame  structure  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  172  1-2 
lbs.  Tnis  building  was  painted  red,  and  became 
known  as  the  '"Old  Red  Meeting  House."  The  elevated 
pew  of  Captain  Barringer  was  placed  in  this  one. 

It  was  dedicated  on  the  4th  of  July  1785.  It  re- 
mained for  about  sixty  years  and  gave  way  to  the 
fifth  building — the  present  one. 

Thus  was  a  bricK  building,  erected  in  1845.  The 
brick  were  made  to  tne  East  of  the  church.  Only  the 
walls  of  the  church  of  1»45  remain,  but  it  was  used 
tor  43  years  without  change.  In  1888  it  was  com- 
pletely revised  with.n,  making  it  modern  and  church- 
ly.  It  was  rededicated  Feb.  10,  1889.  It  has  been  re- 
vised and  remodeled  within  of  late  and  remains 
churchly. 

Thus  we  have  seen  the  buildings  and  locations 
changing  through  this  long  period  of  time,  and 
equally  as  interesting  have  been  the  changes  of  pas- 
tors and  peoples.  Time  wUl  not  permit  of  more  than 
naming  the  long  list  of  good,  and  faithful 
pastors  who  have  served  this  church  in  its  long  his- 
tory: 

1 —  Rev.  Adolphus  Nussman. 

2—  Rev.  C.  A.  G.  Storch. 

3 —  Rev.  Adam  N.  Markerd. 

4—  Rev.  C.  A.  G.  Storch. 

5 —  Rev.  Daniel  Scherer. 
C — Rev.  Henry*  Graeber. 

7 —  Rev.  John  D.  Schenck. 

8—  Rev.  G.  D.  Bernheim,  D.  D. 

9—  Rev.  J.  B.  Anthony. 

10 —  Rev.  L.  C.  Groseclose. 

11—  Rev.  D.  M.  Henkel,  D.  D. 

12—  Rev.  R.  W.  Petrea. 
13_Rev.  S.  L.  Keller. 
14_Rev.  Peter  Miller. 
15_Fev.  J.  O.  Wertz. 
16— Rev.  S.  D.  Steffey. 


6 


17—  Rev.  T.  C.  Parker. 

18—  Rev.  W.  H.  Hiller. 

19—  Rev.  V.  Y.  Boozer,  D.  D. 

20—  Rev.  J.  J.  Long,  D.  D. 

21—  Rev.  C.  R.  Pless. 

22—  Rev.  Geo.  H.  Cox,  D.  D. 

23—  Rev.  Roy  T.  Troutman. 

24—  Rev.  L.  D.  Miller. 

Thus  has  God's  blessings  been  given  to  this  peo- 
ple through  this  honored  and  esteemed  succession  of 
holy  u.en.  But  she  has  not  only  received  of  God 
thiough  men,  but  she  has  given  of  men  to  God.  Her 
name  ranks  among  the  first  in  sons  given  into  the 
ministry.  Again  for  time  and  brevity  we  only  name 
those  who  have  gone  into  the  ministry  from  St. 
John's: 

1 —  Rev.  Jacob  W.  Barrier. 

2 —  Rev.  D.  M.  Llackweider. 

3 —  Rev.  Paul  Barringer,  Reformed  Minister. 

4 —  Kev.  C.  P.  Fisher. 

5—  Rev.  V.  C.  Ridenhour. 

6—  Rev.  E.  L.  Ritchie. 

7 —  Rev.  M.  L.  Ridenhour. 
8_Rev.  J.  B.  Moose,  Ph.  D. 

9—  Rev.  G.  O.  Ritchie. 

10—  Rev.  B.  E.  Petrea. 

11—  Rev.  H.  S.  Petrea. 

12—  Rev.  C.  E.  Ridenhour. 

13 —  Rev.  B.  A.  Barringer. 

Strange  to  say  that  the  records  leave  us  very 
little  information  about  the  Sunday  School.  That 
Sunday  Scnooi  was  held  is  revealed.  But  due  to  the 
large  territory  the  congregation  covered,  the  Sun- 
day School  was  held  in  the  different  sections  of  the 
congregation,  in  the  church  and  at  private  homes. 
While  the  records  reveal  little  about  the  Sunday 
School,  there's  no  doubt  but  that  it  was  the  begin- 
ning of  the  organized  churches  in  later  years. 

St.  John's  today  is  the  Mother  Church    in  this 


7 


section  of  the  State.  Through  the  visions  and  un- 
stinted services  of  her  pastors  sne  is  ail  the  more 
honored,  through  the  cnurches  which  sprang  from 
her  membership.  Seven  churches  in  this  section 
sprang  from  her  membership.  It  was  back  in  1806 
St.  John's  saw  the  organization  of  Bethel  church, 
Stanly  County.  Nearly  all  of  whom  had  been  mem- 
bers of  St.  John's.  Again  in  1837  St.  Stevens  church 
was  organ-zed,  nearly  all  of  the  charter  members, 
being  members  of  St.  John's.  In  1868  we  find  Mt. 
Herman  and  Holy  Trinity  of  Mt.  Pleasant  organiz- 
ing, both  of  which  are  offsprings  of  St.  John's.  Mt. 
Olive  was  organized  in  1878  directly  from  St.  John's 
membership.  And  shortly  after  Mt.  Olive's  organiza- 
tion came  prosperity.  And  lastly  came  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  New  Cold  Water  in  1881.  Not  only  d:d 
she  give  of  her  members  to  prosecute  and  further 
this  work  but  we  are  told  financial  assistance  was 
given  to  all  of  them. 

Her  influence  toward  the  development  of  the 
church  and  her  institutions  at  large  are  very  mark- 
ed. On  the  30th.  of  Dec.  1867  we  find  them  taking  a 
collection  for  the  Southern  Theo. '  Seminary  which 
amounted  to  $170  00.  She  p-ave  cf  h°r  m^ans  for  the 
building  of  St.  Marks,  Charlotte.  The  records  show 
that  the  first  Lutheran  church  of  R'chmond,  Va. 
received  financial  assistance  from  St.  John's.  Also 
assistance  was  given  in  Stanner,  Nebraska,  Imman- 
uel.  The  Records  show  the  North  Carolina  College 
and  Mount  jArroena  Seminary  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  to 
have  been  given  financial  aid.  And  since  these  re- 
cords were  complied,  there's  no  way  doubtless  of 
stating  the  amounts  and  causes  for  which  it  was 
given. 

St.  John's  has  always  been  a  bel'ver  in  educa- 
tion, ^om  her  first  date  of  organization  we  find 
the  school  in  connection  with  the  church.  This  ex- 
amp]0  remains  and  holds  good  to  this  day. 

She  has  been  a  growing  church.  Five  times  she 


8 


was  rebuilt,  and  in  each  instance  the  records  show 
her  size  as  being  increased.  Her  membersh  p  from 
beginning:  until  today  must  be  in  the  thousands.  Her 
present  cemetery  contains  the  dust  of  about  four 
thousand,  most  of  whom  were  members  and  many 
who  have  passed  that  held  membership  here,  have 
been  buried  elsewhere.  We  note  with  particular  in- 
terest that  77  persons  were  confirmed  in  St.  John's 
at  the  Spring  Communion  by  pastor  Storch  who  was 
too  weak  to  stand  but  sat  in  the  altar  and  gave  to 
them  and  the  congregation  his  parting  blessings. 
Also  80  percons  were  confirmed  in  the  year  1858, 
her  membership  continued  to  grow  and  today  is 
numbered  among  the  strongest  in  the  rural  sections. 

St.  John's  connection  with  Lutheranism  in  the 
State  is  a  vital  one.  The  first  English  Lutheran  min- 
ister ordained  in  North  Carolina  took  place  in  St. 
John's  on  the  20th  of  May,  1794,  the  Rev.  Robert 
Johnson  Miller.  It  has  the  honor  of  entertaining  the 
first  Ecclesiastical  meeting  ever  held  by  Lutherans 
in  N.  C.  about  1803,  plthouq-h  she  d^d  not  become  an 
integral  part  of  the  Synod  until  1806.  And  has  many 
times  since  had  this  honor. 

As  sons  and  daughters  of  the  noble  and  honor- 
able history  making  church,  a  church  with  ^  over 
o-rowingr  vision,  dedicated  to  the  Service  of  Almiehty 
God  and  His  Christ.  May  we  make  her  a  hVmg  and 
history  ir» spiring  church,  by  commemorating  and 
perpetuating  her  memorv  and  deeds.  May  her  sons 
and  daughters  continue  dedicating  their  lives  and 
tjPTfviVo  j-n  this  p*r*eat  work,  until  that  great  Horn" 
Comincr  Day — when  her  thousands  whose  sonls  h^vp 
boon  fp<\  the  R^ead  of  Life  within  he**  wpIIs  shall 
awclcfi  out  of  <=lepn  ar>d  ioin  in,  in  the  blessings  God 
has  provided  for  his  people. 


Date  Due 


1 

1 

Form  335— 40M— 6-39— S 

M  CL     ^04    Z99y  v.l 
Nos. 1-18 

372436 

-rohlftt.q 

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CALL  NUMBER 

Vol. 

/si  .  C— 

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Date  (for  periodical) 

Copy  No. 

No a, 1-18 


